Artists portfolio



(no Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 1. 155M. LA BRUCE.

ARTISTS PORTFOLIO. NO. 405,782. Patented June 25. 1889.

WITNESSES: lNl/ENT R:

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2-Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

' F. M. LA BRUCE.

ARTIsTs PORTFOLIO.

No. 405,782. Patented June 25, 1889.

WITNESSES: J2 INVENTOR:

ATTORNEYS.

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UNITED STATES FLORA M. LA BRUCE, OF ANNANDALE, SOUTH CAROLINA.

ARTISTS PORT FOLlO.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 405,782, dated June 25, 1889.

Application filed September 8, 1888.

T0 to whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FLORA M. LA BRUCE, of Annandale, in the county of Georgetown and State of South Carolina, have invented a new and Improved Artists Portfolio, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to an improvement in artists portfolios, and has for its object to provide a light receptacle in which mounted canvas may be conveniently and expeditiously secured for transportation; and the further object of the invention is to provide a means whereby the canvas will be prevented from moving vertically or laterally, and also wherein canvas of various di mensions may be securely held.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar figures of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the portfolio open, illustrating one canvas as being secured therein. Fig. 2 is a section through one of the cushions and cushion-supports, taken partially on the line 00 wof Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a peg utilized in clamping the canvas in the portfolio; and Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the portfolio when closed, illustrating a canvas mounted upon a stretcher as retained therein.

In carrying out the invention the frame of the body 11 is preferably made rectangular and constructed of any suitable light material, the said frame ordinarily consisting of a single piece of metal bent to the aforesaid shape. The bottom strip 12 of the frame is of less width than the top strip 13, and in the recess thus formed a second narrow frame 14 is pivoted to the side pieces of the main or body frame 10; or, preferably, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4, the narrow frame 14 is hinged at the bottom to the said bottom strip in any suitable manner.

The frame 14 is constructed of like mate rial to the frame 10, and both the frames 10 and 14 are provided with a back 15 of celluloid or other water-proof material, a rigid Serial No. 284,899- (No model.)

water-proof material being preferred to a pliable one.

In each corner of the main or body frame 10 cushion'supports 16 are secured, consisting of two members extending at a right angle one from the other and L-shaped in cross-section. In the horizontal member of the said L-shaped cushion-supports a longitudinal recess 17 is produced, adapted to receive a cork cushion 18, the cushion being attached to the supports through the medium of springs 19, as best shown in Fig. 2.

Intermediate of the approaching ends of the horizontal members of the cushion-supports, another support 20 is attached to the frame, likewise L-shaped in cross-section and provided with a spring-actuated cork cushion, as best shown in Fig. 1. The supports 20, however, are single.

The frame 14 is provided with a marginal frame 21 upon the inner side, which marginal frame is constructed of wood or other light material, and is made to extend around the sides of the frame, being secured either to the back or side pieces, or to both, as desired. The thickness of the said marginal frame 21 is equal to the depth of the frame 14.

In the side pieces of the marginal frame 21 a series of spaced transverse (preferably dovetail) grooves 22 are produced, adapted to receive dovetail pins 23, which pins extend upward above the frame, as illustrated in Fig. 1. WVhen the main or body frame 10 is held in a vertical or perpendicular position, and the frame 14 is carried outward therefrom, the latter frame is held at a right angle to the former frame by pivoted strap-hinges 24, secured at one end to the inner side of the main frame 10, and at the opposite extremity within a slot 25, formed in the ends of the marginal frame 21, whereby, when the frame 14 is folded up within the main or body frame 10, the lower section of the strap-hinge will be pressed in the slot 25, permitting the upper section to fold inward in engagment with the sides of the body-frame, as best illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 4.

In operation a stretcher is placed upon the marginal frame 21, and if the said stretcher is not essentially of the dimensions of the said frame one or more of the pins 23 are employed, the same being entered in one of the dovetail grooves 22 contiguous to the sides or side of the stretcher and in engagement with said sides, whereby the lateral movement of the stretcher will be effectually prevented. The stretcher or stretchers having been placed in position, the frame 14 is folded up within the main or body frame 10, whereupon the corners of the stretcher are brought in engagement with the cushions 18, and as the frame 14 is pressed to its closed position the cushions 18 arelikewise pressed I in their recess 17. The frame 14 is held in a closed position by any suitable catch 26,.at

tached to the upper side of the main or body frame, preferably at the center, and a suitable handle 27 is attached also to the top of the body-frame 10, spanning the catch or look 2 6,gvhereby the portfolio maybe readily carrie It will be observed that by reason of the pins 23 engaging both sides of a comparatively large stretcher, and in addition thereto the fact that when the portfolio is closed the spring-actuatedcushions 18 bear firmly thereon, it is utterly impossible for the stretcher to move in'any direction.

If the stretcher is essentially as large as the portfolio, the pins will not be needed; but if a single small stretcher is to be carried it is preferably placed near the center of the frame and pins placed upon each side.

If in practice it is found desirable, the marginal frame may be brokenfso as to extend partially around the auxiliary frame, and

other equivalent constructions may be substituted for the construction shown without departing from the spirit of the invention.

llavin g thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- 1. In an artists portfolio, the combination, with a main or body frame and an auxiliary frame hinged thereto adapted to fold there n, of a marginal frame held within the auxiliary frame, essentially L-shaped cornerpieces attached to the inner side of the main or body frame, and spring-actuated cushions attached to the said corner-pieces, all combined to. operate substantially as and for the to fold therein, of a marginal frame Within the auxiliary frame and spring-actuated cushions attached to the inner side of the main frame at or near the corners, substantially as shown and described.

4. The combination, with a main frame andan auxiliary frame attached thereto adapted to fold therein, of a marginal frame within the auxiliary frame, spring-actuated cushions attached to the inner side of the main frame at or near the corners, and a small cushion intervening the corner cushions, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. The combination, with a main or body frame and an auxiliary frame attached thereto adapted to fold therein, of a marginal frame secured within the auxiliary frame, having dovetail transverse grooves produced therein, dovetail pins adapted to enter said grooves, essentially L-shaped corner-pieces secured to the inner side of the main frame, having a longitudinal recess in the horizontal member, spring-actuated cushions of a light material held within the recess of the corner-pieces, and spring-actuated cushions secured to the said body-frame intermediate of the corner cushions at top and bottom, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

FLORA M. LA BRUCE. Witnesses:

J. F. ACKER, Jr., C. SEDGWIOK. 

